Lester watched as the mammoth hesitated. It had taken years, but eventually an anomaly had opened up to the right time. Unfortunately, Manny had spent too long in captivity, being visited by himself and the other staff, and now, when presented with a way back to his own kind, he was reluctant.

The sound of faint trumpeting in the distance made Manny’s ears perk but still he didn’t leave.

“Go on,” Lester said. “You’re home.”

Manny snuffled Lester with his trunk before walking toward the sound, the call of the wild too strong to resist.

Lester smiled, whispering, “Goodbye, Manny.”

~.~

Watching Lester say goodbye to the mammoth, Becker noticed the shine to his lover’s eyes and slipped his hand into Lester’s. Lester jumped at the touch, glancing back at the others, collecting up their equipment and getting ready to go back through the anomaly.

“He’s back where he belongs,” Becker said.

“I know,” Lester agreed sadly.

“You’re going to miss him, aren’t you?”

Lester nodded. “I’d grown quite fond of the foolish creature.”

Becker smiled and gave Lester a brief hug.

On a hillside nearby, Manny watched until the humans had vanished through the anomaly before turning and walking away.